I had a moral dilemma yesterday. I was shopping in my local Tesco Express, just a couple of items to get, when I spotted a child of about 8 or 9 yrs lurking at the magazine shelves. He was furtively trying to extract the 'free gift' attached to a football magazine - stickers I think or those collector cards. I just stood and watched him. He stopped and slunk off to find Mum and started to pester her to buy him the magazine. She refused saying it was too expensive and she was saving up to get him the computer he wanted. She was unaware of what he'd been up to and I could not make up my mind what to do. She dashed off back into the shop to get something else she had remembered and I had a quick quiet word with the lad about not stealing things and warning him they had cameras in the shop to catch thieves. I said I did not want him getting into trouble for the sake of a few cards. Better to save his pocket money and buy the cards himself. Should I have said something to his mum? I'm hoping I scared him enough to think twice about trying it again. He obviously knew he was doing wrong.
Many years ago I 'shopped' a shop lifter. I saw an old man putting items in his pockets as well as his basket. I did feel sorry for him at first in his rather shabby coat but he was pocketing more than went in his basket. I pointed him out to an assistant and she kept a discreet eye on him before calling for the manager to deal with him. I saw him being held at a till as they opened his coat up to reveal a load of extra inside pockets designed to take goods. I did feel sorry for him at first, thinking he must be really hard up to nick the odd tin of beans, but when I saw his coat I realised he was a well organised and prepared thief. I know sometimes older folk get confused and put something in their bag rather than the basket by accident, but this man could not plead age or confusion with his ill gotten gains so well concealed in special pockets. I don't know what happened to him. I hope he got help and support and not just a fine or a short stay inside.
I know stealing is an issue. I know most of us would not go out to deliberately steal items from shops or other people, but how many of us take home the odd pen from work? Or paper, or maybe borrow a stapler and neglect to return it? What would you do if you found a wallet stuffed with money? or maybe an item of jewellery on the ground. Would you hand it in as lost property or would you keep it?
Ah talking of lost jewellery - here is a spooky tale, and it's true! As the years advanced, I found my original wedding ring getting a bit tight. I had it stretched a little by a jeweller but was worried it had weakened the ring. For our 30th wedding anniversary while on holiday in Jersey, my lovely hubby suggested I get a new one. We had been tight for money when we got married and I had just a narrow plain gold band. Now we could afford something more decorative. We went to one of Jersey's Gold shops and I chose a tricoloured gold plaited band. It was made to my size and we collected it the next day. I stored my old wedding ring and wore the new one with love and pride. It fitted tight enough to stay put but loose enough to remove with a bit of a struggle. When my lovely hubby died from diabetic complications, I was obviously deeply upset. Soon after I realised life had to go on, so ventured out for a walk with a friend's dog I walked regularly. I took the route I usually did and stopped to sit on the bench where I used to sit with Peter, when he managed to come out with me. I headed back to the car after, and as I was putting the dog in the car I noticed my ring was missing! I was distraught and carefully retraced my steps as best I could, eyes glued to the ground. I particularly searched round the bench but could find no trace of the ring. I reported it to the police but they held out no hope of me getting it back. It would either be trodden into the ground or found and pocketed by the finder. As this place was one of his favourite spots to sit and watch the world go by, we made it the agreed resting place for Peter's ashes. I like to think the spirit of Peter was there when I sat and contemplated my life without him around, and somehow I had loosened the ring fiddling with it subconsciously and it was left there where his spirit was.
I now wear my original wedding ring on a gold chain. It's too tight for my ring finger and too loose for my little finger. I do still wear my eternity ring on my left hand.
This coming Christmas will be the 7th without Peter with us. We have established a whole new set of routines for Christmas since losing him, but it is still very complicated trying to organise seeing everyone over the festive season. All the offspring and their cousins work and get different days off over the period. It's easy for me and my sisters to meet up because we are now all retired and free agents, so we can meet mid-week with no problems, but the younger ones are limited in their holidays. If I arrange a visit without them, my kids complain like mad, but finding a day they are all available is difficult. I have booked a day with my sisters, and arranged both Jen and James to take a day's holiday, so for once we will all be together :) makes a nice change! I'm not sure yet who is visiting who, or if we are meeting half way for a nice pub lunch. It is often easier to do that so we both travel for about an hour to a suitable venue, rather than one lot travel 2 hours or so each way.
I talk to both my sisters at least once a week on the phone and keep in touch.
Although we are sisters we are three very different women. There is almost exactly 6 years between each of us, so my oldest sister is 12 years older than me and more like an aunt. My other sister is 6 years older than me and the hard worker of the family. I am the lazy spoilt youngest 'child'. I always had two older sisters and a stay-at-home Mum to 'help' me so a love of housework did not come naturally to me LOL I was lazy and untidy as a child and have not changed LOL. I now appreciate how my mother felt having me living with her, as my daughter lives with me still and takes after me in too many ways! I am always falling over her 'stuff'! LOL maybe it's retribution!
As usual I have waffled on too long.
Jeanette - have a ball in Spain!
Rosie - take care of your lovely kids and enjoy those horses and ponies. I don't envy you getting up in the dark to see to them in the morning.
Have a good day everyone! xx
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